Ugly Betty for Singapore

Since October, I’ve been reading about a new TV show that's been growing in popularity. Ugly Betty, starring America Ferrara from Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, will remind you a fair bit of The Devil Wears Prada. Ugly, awkward assistant makes good at a posh fashion magazine. But don’t accuse this show of being a copycat - it’s a remake of a Columbian TV show, Yo Soy Betty, la Fea, that started in the 90s, so it’s really copying something else. Another difference - Betty never quite gets the dream makeover that Anne Hathway’s character does. She gets a makeover, sure, but it doesn’t quite work out the way you think. She’s plump, has busy eyebrows, big hair, glasses, and glittering braces. She’s also a Latina from Queens and she’s just landed the job of assistant to the floundering new editor-in-chief - and resident hot guy - of Mode, a magazine of Meade publications in New York. Everyone resents her, makes fun of her, and tries to break her spirit, but she always come through (not without considerable struggle). She certainly comes through and even succeeds where thinner, sexier, and better-dressed Botoxed colleagues have failed.

It’s a successful comedy with lots of heart and a really good message. Reading about how it’s been remade in Russia, Germany, and India, sparked an idea. Since Singapore TV has always been accused of copying overseas shows, how about just going with it and remaking this one for Singapore audiences, claiming inspiration from the original Betty La Fea, or ABC’s Ugly Betty? Salma Hayek, the producer of the American version, heaps much praise on its source, after all. Copying this show wouldn’t be too difficult. It’d be quite believable in fact, for a remake of an American or Colombian production. We have fashion magazines; we have in place the same standards of unattainable beauty; we have gorgeous high-fliers - who could probably be models themselves - working in the fashion world. And we have our minority races. We don’t have Queens, but we have Geylang and Serangoon. You could still cast a Chinese girl in the main role, just play up the whole foreign talent controversy by having a Caucasian expatriate in the role of editor-in-chief. He’d be white, handsome, and shipped in from posh London or swanky New York, but this is why the role would still work against stereotype - he’s one of only two or three people in the company who recognizes Betty’s talent and spirit, admires her for who she is, and treats her with kindness and respect. Of course, he’s still a Casanova and beds any pretty thing in a skirt.

I’d also dare the Singapore production to re-create every character on Ugly Betty’s cast, especially Betty’s young effeminate nephew who wears discounted but sharp-looking Ralph Lauren vests, tap dances and sings like Gene Kelly, and dishes out fashion advice and encouragement to Betty. One scene in the Halloween episode shows Justin tapping and singing for his family, who are supportive but worried about the reception Justin might get in school. Instead of forcing Justin to throw out his Halloween costume and cease his dancing, his grandfather says, "I hope he can sing, dance, and throw a punch!" Some viewers had doubts about a show with a "gay boy" (he's not gay - he doesn't have a boyfriend!), but Justin's pretty much a universally loved character by now.

I’d love to be a writer for the Singapore version, if there ever is one. Of course, anyone in Singapore’s TV industry who reads this post can steal my idea – if it hasn’t already been thought of – and I can kid myself into thinking that someone did read this and brought it to a Singaporean audience. First thing though, we need to have the actual show on our channels! I’m having an Ugly Betty withdrawal period now. I watched the first five episodes on Youtube several times before the admin folks caught on and yanked the user’s account.

There’s still the trailer though (look out for the Guy-Pearce-look-alike model, what cheekbones!). This show is for anyone who feels frustrated that they care too much about what people think or wants badly to achieve something but don’t think they have what it takes. Well, just take a page from Betty’s book. Screw the standards of beauty, the wicked gossip, the judgmental jibes about your appearance, lack of pedigree, graces, or fine clothes, and just forge ahead with guts and an indomitable spirit.